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West Ham United have yet to make a summer signing and with the 2023/24 Premier League campaign kicking off next week, David Moyes will need to act swiftly if he aims to bolster his squad.

He has seen a move for Carlos Borges fall through, with the youngster joining Ajax instead of West Ham and with £105m in the transfer kitty due to the sale of Declan Rice, Moyes certainly has the cash to spend.

French striker Elye Wahi has been eyed for a potential move and Moyes could make the youngster his first summer signing.

Could West Ham sign Elye Wahi?

The Montpellier hitman has been attracting interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea also keen on luring him to London. Journalist Fabrice Hawkins shared a recent update, tweeting: “Chelsea, West Ham, Fulham and Frankfurt are interested in Elye Wahi.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

“In recent days the Germans insist on convincing the player. Chelsea made a first offer of 30 million euros including bonus. Montpellier wants about 40M €.”

Moyes certainly faces tough competition for his signature, yet for a fee of €40m (£35m), it could turn into a stunning bargain given his meteoric rise in Ligue 1.

How good is Elye Wahi?

West Ham scored just 42 league goals last term, a drop from the 60 they registered the season before, and it suggests some added firepower is required this summer.

The only centre forward to score more than ten goals was Michail Antonio, with 2022 summer arrival Gianluca Scamacca failing to impress, netting just eight goals in total across all competitions.

It looks as though the Italian is departing the London side, joining Atalanta in the coming days, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Wahi would certainly be a wonderful replacement for the striker and judging by his statistics over the previous 12 months, he could even be a major upgrade.

The 20-year-old ranked first across the Montpellier squad for goals and assists (24) and shots on target per game (1.2), while also ranking seventh for key passes (0.7) and sixth for successful dribbles (0.9) per game, showcasing his abilities across a range of attacking metrics.

In contrast, Scamacca failed to rank in the top five across the West Ham squad for goals and assists (three), while managing just 0.6 shots on target, 0.8 key passes and 0.4 successful dribbles per game, failing to impress following his big money move from Serie A last summer.

The French talent also ranked in the top 7% when compared to positional peers for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.64) over the previous 12 months, whereas Scamacca fails to even rank in the top 50%, averaging just 0.29 non-penalty goals per 90, and it’s evident that Wahi is much more effective in front of goal.

Lauded as a “real beast” by reporter Andres Onrubia Ramos in 2022, Wahi has scored 32 senior goals and he is yet to turn 21. The Italian, in comparison has netted 50 goals during his career, yet he is four years older, and it looks as though the youngster could break through that barrier in no time.

Judging by the evidence, the Montpellier hitman is a major upgrade on the 11-cap Italy international and Moyes should be doing everything he can to lure him to West Ham.

NSW openers led the charge with a mammoth opening stand after Queensland captain Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne helped their side post 282

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2017
ScorecardDaniel Hughes razed to his second ton of the tournament•Getty ImagesA 192-run opening stand between centurion Daniel Hughes and Nic Maddinson set up New South Wales’ six-wicket victory against Queensland, with Hughes scoring his second hundred of the tournament. The result meant that Usman Khawaja’s 138, which anchored Queensland to 7 for 282, was in vain.Hughes and Maddinson, currently leading the tournament run charts, struck 122 and 86 respectively, scoring at a rate of 5.87 in their partnership. While Maddinson fell 14 short of his 12th List A ton, Hughes brought up his fourth successive fifty-plus score in the tournament. He fell in the 44th over, having lifted NSW to 250 and they comfortably crossed the target after that, with seven balls to spare. Of the six bowlers used by Queensland, only Brendan Doggett, Cameron Gannon, Michael Neser managed to scalp a wicket each as their side suffered their third loss of the tournament.Earlier, NSW, who had opted to bowl first, dismissed Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns for 4 each. Burns was out hit wicket, after his bat hit the stumps while he attempted a pull off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. Khawaja, however, weathered the opening burst from Starc (3-48), Nathan Lyon (1-36) and Doug Bollinger, and wrested control along with Marnus Labuschagne. The pair added 217 runs, with Khawaja scoring 138 off 139 balls and Labuschagne contributing 91. Khawaja’s century followed up scores of 85 and 81 in his two previous games, putting him fourth on the tournament run charts.

Manchester United are reportedly considering a raid on a fellow Premier League outfit in their bid to find a replacement for departing defender, Harry Maguire…

Which club is Maguire joining?

Having been stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag last month, the England international now looks set to seal a move to West Ham United after the two clubs agreed a deal for a fee in the region of £30m.

With the 30-year-old likely to be on his way, the Daily Mail's Chris Wheeler has revealed that Crystal Palace star, Marc Guehi is among the list of options that United are considering to replace Maguire, with the transfer insider writing on Twitter:

"Maguire still has to agree personal terms with West Ham and it may require a £10m payoff from Utd. Todibo, Tapsoba, Pavard and Guehi are possible replacements. Evans also an option. West Ham have yet to make an improved offer for McTominay after £30m bid rejected last week."

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

If the Red Devils are to look to the former Chelsea youth asset as their new centre-back recruit, previous reports have indicated that the Eagles have slapped a £60m asking price on the 23-year-old's head.

Should Man United sign Guehi?

It may be that such a substantial price tag is justified for a player who has already forced his way into Gareth Southgate's plans at international level, with Guehi also having been dubbed an "absolute tank" by former England youth colleague, Josef Bursik.

That being said, however, such a deal may have alarm bells ringing among those of a United persuasion, with it not too long ago that the Old Trafford outfit forked out £50m in order to prise Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Selhurst Park.

While the tough-tackling full-back has enjoyed something of a resurgence under Ten Hag of late – with rumours rife that the 25-year-old could be handed a new contract extension in the near future – it is fair to say that it has been a bumpy road for Wan-Bissaka during his time in Manchester.

Branded "useless" on the ball by club legend, Paul Scholes, the Croydon-born menace has arguably found it difficult to adapt to life at such an elite club, with treble winner Roy Keane having also stated that "I actually don’t think he’s a good defender".

The 6 foot ace has particularly struggled in an attacking sense after scoring just twice and providing only 11 assists in 160 games in all competitions over the past four years, with that a limp return for any full-back worth their salt.

As pundit, Paul Merson stated at the time of Wan-Bissaka's move to the Theatre of Dreams, joining a club like United is "a massive jump", with there no doubt a fear that the aforementioned Guehi may also suffer a similar fate, despite his prior Premier League experience.

Of course, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof already at the club it would allow the Palace ace the time to bed in and adapt to Ten Hag's methods, although having to splash out anywhere close to £60m for a potential backup option could prove to be a costly mistake.

The fast bowler made his maiden first-class fifty and topped it up with two wickets in two overs. Elsewhere, defending champions Gujarat too built a solid case for qualification

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2017Basil Thampi enjoyed a fine day out in Lahli. It began with his walking out as a nightwatchman, without a single run to his name. It ended with him scoring a maiden first-class half-century and picking up two vital wickets to reduce Haryana to 83 for 5. On the back of that effort, Kerala retained a lead of 98 runs and appear well placed to secure the victory which will seal their progress into the quarter-finals.That may have been timely consolation for Rohan Prem, who had battled for 314 balls in search of a century only to fall seven runs short. His was the first wicket of two wickets to fall in the 101st over bowled by legspinner Amit Mishra but Thampi ensured there was no transfer of momentum, striking 10 fours and a six during his stay at the crease. Although Kerala’s tail folded relatively meekly – medium-pacer Ajit Chahal picked up his second five-for in as many matches – the damage had already been done.It would only get worse for Haryana as they found themselves 6 for 1 in the seventh over. The run-rate remained dismal for the rest of the day – they were 39 for 3 in the 27th – and were hurt further when Thampi picked up two wickets in successive overs to leave the score at 61 for 5.Defending champions Gujarat took a few further steps towards making the knockouts in Ranchi with Kamlesh Thakor, the debutant left-arm seamer, playing a pivotal role. The 25-year old picked up five wickets in the day to ensure Jharkhand were bowled out for 242 and then made to follow on. The hosts could not stand up to scoreboard pressure, with six of the XI falling for single-digits in the first innings. Only opener Nazim Siddiqui (71) and Kumar Deobrat (80) provided any resistance but they were removed by Gujarat’s two most impressive bowlers Thakor (3 for 43) and Chintan Gaja (3 for 49). Deobrat was promoted to open alongside Siddiqui in the second innings, but both batsmen fell to Thakor to leave Jharkhand 106 for 2 in at stumps.As well as Saurashtra fought, making Rajasthan follow-on in Jaipur, their bid to stay alive in the tournament took a hit due to the way the other two matches in group B progressed. A win for Gujarat and Kerala will see them through regardless of what Saurashtra do. Still, captain Jaydev Unadkat (3 for 77), Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (3 for 42) and Shaurya Sanandia (3 for 62) bowled Rajasthan out for 275 and helped secure a lead of 259. Robin Bist (63) and Mahipal Lomror (52) were the only batsmen to put up concerted resistance. There was time for 12 overs in the follow-on innings, which openers Amitkumar Gautam and Chetan Bist safely negotiated.

Tottenham Hotspur got their Premier League season underway on Sunday, and it has already become clear how Ange Postecoglou will seek to set his side up…

Who else do Spurs want to sign?

Recording an admirable 2-2 draw with a resolute Brentford side, the Lilywhites enjoyed a couple of standout performances as they began life with not only their new manager but without star man Harry Kane.

Amongst all the intrigue such narratives brought, it provided a fine foundation for one player to steal the show. Now, his Australian manager could be set to sign a perfect partner for that man, Yves Bissouma.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

One such option that remains is Conor Gallagher, who Football Insider referenced with regard to a potential north London switch recently.

Whilst the report is a largely negative one, playing down their chances of snatching the England international, it must be noted that they have just come into a very large sum of money with the sale of their key striker.

Given the midfield maestro will likely cost around £50m, and it is noted that Spurs remain interested despite all these claims, perhaps there is still a deal to be struck.

How good is Conor Gallagher?

Many were startled by just how calm and assured Bissouma performed yesterday, given the struggles he endured under Antonio Conte's regime.

The Italian boss was not kind to his 2022 summer signing, handing him just ten starts in the Premier League and vocally questioning his tactical acumen: "The only player that is struggling a bit with the tactical aspect is Bissouma, but also he is improving a lot in every aspect. With the ball, he’s really good, defensively he has to pay more attention."

So, to earn the second-highest match rating within that aforementioned game, via Sofascore, having maintained a 92% pass accuracy, enjoyed 138 touches of the ball and won nine ground duels, it is clear just how important the Malian midfield general could be to Postecoglou in the near future.

He was industrious and economical, and would certainly benefit from an all-action colleague like Gallagher to offset his calming presence.

After all, the 23-year-old was lauded by The Athletic's Mike Stavrou, who noted just last year: "Conor Gallagher was absolutely relentless with his pressing and energy tonight. Some player Chelsea have got."

A tireless hard worker but with that touch of class to align with Spurs' system, his presence could offer some much-needed energy besides the metronomic Bissouma, and an added touch of attacking impetus.

After all, the Cobham graduate did enjoy a standout year on loan at Crystal Palace back in 2021, where he scored eight and assisted a further five across all competitions from the engine room.

His energy is further emphasised by his underlying figures, which detail his excellence in a number of attributes that give credence to the suggestion that there is little he cannot do on a football pitch.

When compared to other central midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 14% for total shots per 90, the top 4% for progressive passes received per 90 and the top 5% for blocks per 90, via FBref.

As a manager who craves a high press, alongside a player whose game is built around dogged, lung-busting displays, these two seem a match made in heaven that could tackle this division.

Especially with someone like Bissouma beside him, feeding balls into him whilst offering a foundation for the £50k-per-week ace to recapture those figures enjoyed at Selhurst Park.

Wolves are badly in need of transfer reinforcements during the summer transfer window and it looks as though they are targeting several key positions.

Have Wolves signed any players this summer?

It has ultimately been a hugely disappointing summer at Molineux, having finished last season on something of a high after improving under the impressive Julen Lopetegui.

The Spaniard has now left as manager, however, being replaced in the role by former Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil, and many believe Wolves could have a relegation battle on their hands.

No significant new faces have come in since the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Matheus Cunha and Boubacar Traore have seen their loan moves turn into permanent deals, whereas Matt Doherty and Tom King have joined on free transfers.

Meanwhile, key man Ruben Neves has moved on to Saudi Arabia, so it is imperative that some significant business is completed between now and the end of the month when deadline day arrives.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding Wolves' current situation – one that may give supporters some hope over new faces coming in at Molineux.

Which positions are Wolves targeting?

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, Wolves are eyeing up additions in both midfield and attack before the end of the current transfer window, with a new striker, winger and central midfielder all on the agenda.

"Wolves are only able to move for free transfers and loans this summer, sources have told Football Insider. Gary O’Neil has recently been appointed as Julen Lopetegui’s successor – and a well-placed source has told Football Insider that the former Bournemouth manager will have to “wheel and deal” to improve his squad in the final weeks of the window.

"The main priorities for Wolves in the market are a new striker, winger and central midfielder."

While the restrictions mentioned in the report are far from ideal for Wolves, it is at least encouraging that they are looking to bolster their squad, ahead of what could be a tough season.

It is clear that a new midfielder is badly needed, in order to help fill the void left by Neves, not to mention fellow Portuguese ace Joao Moutinho. At present, they look worryingly light in that area of the pitch, ahead of a daunting Premier League opener away to Manchester United on Monday night.

Meanwhile, attacking reinforcements are also paramount, considering Raul Jimenez and Diego Costa have both moved on, as well as Adama Traore. Last season, Neves and Daniel Podence were Wolves' top goalscorers in the league with just six goals, which perfectly highlights the need for new signings in the final third.

This feels like a pivotal couple of weeks in Wanderers' recent history, with a failure to bring in fresh faces something that prove to be fatal, arguably making them one of the favourites to be relegated to the Championship.

On the flip side, if the right players are added and O'Neil hits the ground running, there is no reason why Wolves can't steer themselves away from the drop zone and consolidate their place as a mid-table team.

Hall will take over the captaincy from Heather Knight, who will miss the upcoming season as she recovers from a foot injury

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2017Tasmania batsman Corinne Hall will lead the Hobart Hurricanes in the third season of the Women’s Big Bash League, which starts from December 9. Hall replaces Heather Knight in the role, after the England captain, who led the Hurricanes in the last two seasons, was ruled out of the tournament due to a foot injury. Hall has also signed a two-year deal with the franchise.Knight had sustained the injury during the World Cup and while the ECB has said the injury can be managed during the ongoing women’s Ashes, the post-Ashes period has been set aside for recovery.The Hurricanes have signed England opener Lauren Winfield and Indian middle-order batsman Veda Krishnamurthy as two new international players this year.”Veda seems like a student of the game, someone who is always looking to improve some aspect of her cricket,” Hall said. “We saw how destructive she can be in the World Cup when she played a dynamic innings against a very good New Zealand side (70 off 45 balls), so hopefully we will see more of that from here this WBBL.””Lauren is a player I have admired for a long time and through her experience representing England and leading Yorkshire both in the County and Kia Super Leagues, I think she will be invaluable asset to myself and the group.”The Hurricanes are scheduled to play their first game against the Adelaide Strikers on December 9, the opening day of the 2017-18 WBBL season. The team finished as semi-finalists in the previous two seasons and will be looking to break the trend this season.

Harpreet Singh Bhatia converted his overnight 47 to 107 not out to stretch MP’s total to 338 but Delhi hit back with fifties from the rookies

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2017
ScorecardESPNcricinfo LtdHarpreet Singh Bhatia converted his overnight 47 to 107 not out – his second hundred of the season – to stretch Madhya Pradesh’s total to 338 after they had been reduced to 157 for 5 on the first day. But Delhi mounted a strong response; fifties from rookies Kunal Chandela and Dhruv Shorey sliced the deficit to 158 by stumps.MP suffered an early jolt losing the other overnight batsman Puneet Datey for 35 in the 11th over of the day, but Harpreet added 58 for the eighth wicket with Mihir Hirwani (15) to haul the score beyond 300. The stand ended when left-arm spinning allrounder Manan Sharma had Hirwani caught behind in the 121st over. Manan went onto the wrap up the rest of the tail even as Harpreet notched up his seventh first-class ton. Manan finished with 4 for 46 while the other left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra claimed 3 for 58.In response, Delhi began shakily, losing Gautam Gambhir for 6 in the first over. Chandela and Shorey then set the foundation with a 145-run partnership. Shorey hit 10 fours during his 120-ball 78, while Chandela, the opener, was less fluent, hitting five fours and two sixes in his 73 off 150 balls. Left-arm spinning allrounder Ankit Sharma broke the partnership when he dismissed Shorey in the 43rd over. Chandela and Nitish Rana then saw the side through to stumps without any further damage.

Glasgow Rangers are just one positive result away from the riches and glamour of the Champions League group stage.

The tie in Eindhoven next week represents a major opportunity for Michael Beale, but for now, he will be focussing on the Premiership match against Ross County tomorrow afternoon.

The manager will also have one eye on bringing at least another player in before the end of the transfer window as he looks to do his shopping South of the border.

Will Rangers sign anyone else?

Nine new faces have arrived at Ibrox this summer, and it has been a productive window for the club.

With European group stage football guaranteed, whether its Champions or Europa League, Beale’s squad will need to have some serious strength in depth to cope with the demands.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

They could turn their heads to the Championship as the Light Blues are keen on Bristol City defender Zak Vyner, according to Bristol Live.

Southampton are also keeping tabs on the centre-back, yet Beale will be confident that the allure of playing for Rangers and competing for trophies should be more than enough incentive.

The 26-year-old titan has just one year left on his current contract and this could allow the club to potentially secure him for a knockdown price, boosting their defensive options in the process.

How good is Zak Vyner?

At this current moment in time, Beale have as many as five centre-backs in the senior Rangers squad, yet there are question marks over a few of them.

Ben Davies may not have a long-term future at the club, whilst Leon Balogun is 35 and has signed for just one season.

Leon King is somewhat still learning his trade, and this leaves just John Souttar and Connor Goldson as Beale’s first-choice pairing.

The Scot has been wonderful this term, averaging a 7.2 rating in the league, via Sofascore, but his injury history is always a slight worry, having missed 46 games during his Gers career thus far.

Vyner could arrive at Ibrox and potentially form a solid partnership with Goldson at the heart of the defence.

Last season in the Championship, he ranked in the top five across the squad for overall rating (6.88), accurate passes (40.9), interceptions (1.5) and clearances (3.2) per game, suggesting that he had a positive influence in the squad.

The defender also won 3.8 total duels – a success rate of 55% – demonstrating his physicality and these statistics are comparable to Goldson from last term.

The Englishman averaged 69.4 accurate passes per game and also made 0.8 interceptions and three clearances per game while winning 5.4 total duels, indicating that the duo could form a solid partnership under Beale.

Vyner was dubbed “versatile” by his manager Nigel Pearson last season, as he is equally adept at playing full-back, and he even has experience playing in Scotland, having spent time on loan at Aberdeen during the 2019/20 campaign, where he featured 18 times for the Dons.

There will be at least one more arrival in Glasgow before the end of the transfer window and Beale should act swiftly in order to lure Vyner to the Gers as he could be an excellent partner for Goldson.

Manchester United appear to be solving the transfer issues ahead of the deadline at 11 o'clock tonight, with Erik ten Hag pushing for a squad capable of competing in the Premier League and Champions League this season.

What's the latest on Sofyan Amrabat to Manchester United?

According to Sky Sports News [1st September, 09:51am), Manchester United are in advanced talks with Serie A outfit Fiorentina for midfield maestro Sofyan Amrabat.

Red Devils director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves has flown to Italy today to try and close a deal for the Moroccan, with The Athletic's David Ornstein reporting that there is no agreement between the respective outfits.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

The reporter inside Old Trafford revealed that Amrabat was "keen to join" Erik ten Hag's side live on air, so it's now down to both clubs to agree on the terms of a deal, with La Viola thought to value him at £30m.

A loan deal with an obligation to buy has been discussed, but time is in short supply, so the United hierarchy will need to make progress swiftly.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Despite Manchester United placing Amrabat at the top of the shopping list for the entirety of the summer transfer window, the closing stage is nigh and the 27-year-old has yet to join the fold at the Theatre of Dreams.

The prestigious Premier League outfit have closed a deal for Tottenham Hotspur left-back Sergio Reguilon today – to combat the long-term injury to Luke Shaw – but still need to buttress the midfield with a first-class acquisition.

Fabrizio Romano claimed that the midfielder has always been the "top target" for Ten Hag's side, having thrived at the centre of Fiorentina's squad and dazzled on the biggest stage with Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, with his nation becoming the first African side to reach the final four.

Described as the "best central midfielder in the tournament" by journalist Carlo Garganese for his escapades in Qatar, Amrabat was immense and completed 85% of his passes while averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.4 clearances per game as Morocco commendably came fourth.

One of the finest passers of the ball around, Amrabat ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion and the top 2% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

The fact that the £32k-per-week ace maintains such precision despite the sheer volume of passes forged each match is a testament to his first-rate technical ability; for reference, Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara, one of Europe's most prominent maestros, ranks among the top 4% for passes attempted and 6% for progressive passes per 90, but only among the top 21% for pass completion.

By placing Amrabat into the squad, Ten Hag would open up a new dimension to the fluidity and drive of the midfield, threading the departments of the pitch together superlatively with such a sensational ball-player.

While this is his standout faculty, Amrabat is considered a "raging bull" in the midfield – as said by journalist Amine El Amri – with an admirable "defensive instinct", according to pundit Joe Cole.

It is because of this that United would land a massive upgrade on Scott McTominay by signing the 6 foot 1 gem, with the Scotland international said to be "not good enough" for the Red Devils by club legend Roy Keane.

McTominay is also attracting attention from the likes of Fulham, who are establishing contingency plans in case Joao Palhinha departs for Bayern Munich today, and United might be wise to ship the long-serving player on to recuperate funds for the Amrabat deal.

McTominay is a tenacious defensive presence and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders for clearances and aerial wins per 90, but only ranks among the top 52% for pass completion and the bottom 7% for progressive passes per 90.

Given the vision that Ten Hag has, Amrabat would be the perfect signing to tidy up the midfield and increase the robustness, and while McTominay has served Old Trafford well, now might be a good time to move onto the next chapter, with the La Viola phenom proving to be a monumental upgrade.